If they want it, they'll come and get it and there's not a lot you can do to stop them:
- If you up your security, they break into the house and take the keys;
- If you lock the keys away (!), they come after you;
- If you take the keys upstairs, they come after them;
- They don't use bats, as they might be done for having an offensive weapon, so they just boil a kettle before they go upstairs.
B4s seem to appeal for the simple reason that they have four doors, are less conspicuous than Imprezas and still plenty quick.
As was demonstrated yesterday in North Strand yesterday, the Gardai are on your side, aren't inept and aren't lacking in bravery. Sadly, they're pi$$ing up a rope in bringing these goons to court, where they are immediately released to re-offend. And they do.
In my recent, similarly unfortunate, experience with the Guards I found them to be committed, conscientous, informed, professional, utterly frustrated petrolheads. And they found my car - locked-up, tooled-up and ready for a job.
Possibly the simplest counter-measure you can take is to buy a 100 mobile phone, hide it away in the boot on permanent charge and let the Guard track that when the car is taken. And if they come, let the whores take your car - it's then only an insurance problem, not a life insurance problem.